Competitive Exams: Current Affairs 2006

National (India) Current Affairs 2006

Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi acquitted (19, Dec 2006)

RJD chief and Railway minister Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi were acquitted in the 7 year old disproportionate asset (DA) case. Lalu Yadav was accused by BI of amassing property worth over 46 lakh beyond his known source of income when he was the CM of Bihar between1990 − 1997. His wife Rabri Devi was made a co-accused in the case. The DA case was an offshoot of the fodder scam of 1998 and the duo had to surrender in court and Yadav even had to go to jail. With their acquittal, it was celebration time at the official residence of Rabri Devi in Patna.

By a vote of 85 − 12, the US Senate voted to support a Bush administration's nuclear plan to sell nuclear technology and fuel to India, which was the most important strategic diplomatic initiative undertaken by President Bush.

In exchange, India is supposed to open some of its plants to international inspections to prove that the fuel won't be diverted for weapons.

With this, the US aim to expand strategic ties with India, the fastest-growing major economy after China.

Investment Protection Agreement With China (16, Nov 2006)

India approved signing an Investment Protection Agreement with Beijing, before Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to India i.e.. On November 20, 2006 This will increase the investment between China and India and would be in force for 10 years, according to the Information & Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

Trade between the two countries is expected to touch 20 billion dollars this fiscal, against 18.7 billion dollars last year.

In the enduring Jessica Lal murder case, on behalf of the prime accused Manu Sharma, lawyer Ram Jethmalani told the Delhi High Court Division Bench, comprising Justices R S Sodhi and P. K. Bhasin that much of the two thirds of the evidence produced by the prosecution are false and fabricated, which have created doubts.

Ram Jethmalani contented to reject the testimonies of socialite Bina Ramani, her husband George Mailhot and their daughter fashion designer Malini Ramani as their statements contradicted one another.

The Bench rejected Mr. Jethmalani's plea for a direction to the Delhi police to hand over to him copies of three reports made by the Special Investigation Team about lapses in investigation so that he could defend his client better.

Joint Panel With Pakistan Discussed Anti-Terror Mechanism

Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Pakistani Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan, in a joint panel held positive discussions in New Delhi on setting up an anti-terrorism mechanism.

The discussion included complete achievement of Jammu & Kashmir related confidence-building measures agreed to in the past.

The discussion incorporated that the two countries will sign agreement on measures to reduce the risk of nuclear war, in the impending future.

Centre To Lay Norms For Regulating Ads Soon

The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal has asked the government to lay the guidelines for regulating the advertisements containing political content issued by various government departments.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has convened meetings of states and various departments in December to come out with guidelines on the issue.

Indian Navy To Induct US-Made Helicopters

Indian Navy, for the first time would induct US-made helicopter with the government giving the go-ahead for purchase of six Sikorsky-Seaking Helicopters.

The six helicopters are part of the package deal for the purchase of the Landing ship tank USS Trenton, from which the choppers operate. While, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had cleared the purchase of Trenton at a cost of Rs. 200 crores, the sale of helicopters was being negotiated.

Muslims Lagging Behind Other Groups, Says Sachar Committee

The seven-member committee headed by Rajinder Sachar, a former chief justice of the Delhi High Court, that was set up to go into the social, economic and educational status of Muslims, submitted its report to the Prime Minister, which said the community was lagging behind other religious groups in development indicators and asked the government to frame appropriate programmes to address its educational and economic backwardness.

In its report, it said the community was relatively poor, more illiterate, has lower access to education, lower representation in public and private sector jobs and lower availability of bank credit for self-employment.